Baselworld is only a few weeks away. Getting the latest news is easy, Click Here for info on how to join the Watchuseek.com newsletter list. Follow our team for updates featuring event coverage, new product unveilings, watch industry news & more!

My windows home server 2011 build does all of those things very well. Lots of linux distributions that'll do the job well too if you're comfortable with them. If you're talking hardware requirements, I'd recommend minimum quad core processor with ~8Gb RAM. Most modern boards by Gigabyte, Asus, etc.. would be fine. With servers, always give yourself plenty of room to grow, A fast network and an excellent power supply. You're building for reliability.. not so much raw speed.

^^ And some you don't. Just ignore all that silliness about SSD being necessary, you should be fine

But SSD is necessary

Just kidding

I honestly don't think that topic is discussed in my server thread. I never raised the issue, and I believe in the value of SSD enough to include one in my budget. It was never even a second thought for me. Not even for a second. Not an option I would ever consider (not using SSD for OS).

I don't think the topic was at all discussed because no one else ever challenged my on using an SSD for my OS. I ended up grabbing an OCZ Vertex 3 120GB for $49.99 on Black Friday (I bought three) and using that for my OS drive.
Very happy with it. My previous server was H61 Asrock/G630 with a 60GB Agility 3 SSD I got for $44.99. My point being you don''t need to spend a ton of $$ to include an SSD in your build and for this reason it's worth it IMO. There is a ton of difference in performance, speed, snappiness of the dashboard, faster remote access, and improved album art population with PLEX media server etc... that is just plain night and day better.

I'll stand by using SSD for an OS installation until the day I die; I am passionate and highly appreciative of the obvious benefits. I won't ever own or operate a NON SSD based machine again in my life. My time is too valuable.

But of coarse you can build a server with a normal spinner HDD and it would work wonderfully. Not everyone drives cars that go 200mph either. It's a personal decision.

-

"Too much is almost enough. Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards."

Link to the case would be nice so I can check it out without searching the web

I don't see much issue with those parts. I like them all. I considered the MK III but ended up going with a more efficient Rosewill (80+ Gold) but I think it would make a good choice for you.

I own that Lite ON Bluray (I have two of them in my desktop) One sometimes locks up if I open MAKMKV with a video game disc in it still and I must kill power to PC to resolve and get the disc out. Other than that I have had no issues.

I also like Gskill RAM, I've used it 30 times without any issues. Crucial Ram is about 30% defective by my experience. (3 out of 10 for me)

How much is the i5 ?? Nice choice but not always a good value. I just build a server with 3570 and the CPU was $179. The server grade i5 level CPU is about $200 and better sometimes.

I like Asrock 77 mobo's. No complaints there.

I also like Seagate HDD's. Those 4TB's are great choice. Fast, big, and very low energy. Samsung SSD's are also excellent.

-

"Too much is almost enough. Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards."

I was just having fun with you, I'm thinking you're right about the thread.

Who am I to talk? I have no dedicated server, both of my tower PCs have multiple duties, but I did just purchase Samsung 256gb 840 Pro for them. After completing the clone on the first (my media server/general use) my thought is that if you want to go that route it's certainly not wrong. Performance tests make those Samsung 4GB drives cry uncle. I've wanted to do so with my photo processing computer for some time now, Newegg's sale price of $220 was impossible to say no to.

I was just having fun with you, I'm thinking you're right about the thread.

Who am I to talk? I have no dedicated server, both of my tower PCs have multiple duties, but I did just purchase Samsung 256gb 840 Pro for them. After completing the clone on the first (my media server/general use) my thought is that if you want to go that route it's certainly not wrong. Performance tests make those Samsung 4GB drives cry uncle. I've wanted to do so with my photo processing computer for some time now, Newegg's sale price of $220 was impossible to say no to.

Jealous of your 256GB SAMMY PRO.... I want one for my desktop. I've had my eyes on that or a Vector 256GB for quite some time.

$199 is my line. I don't "NEED" it at all... but I do want

-

"Too much is almost enough. Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards."

My intent was to get the Samsung and an OCZ Vector just to mix it up a little. The price saved helps purchase the bracket that Samsung was too cheap to provide. FWIW, despite negative comments about the Samsung migration tool it worked fine. I had my trusty Easeus Todo waiting but it wasn't necessary.

But you lose the motherboard cpu $40 off combo with the i7. I did a build a month ago with that same i7 and it was nice and fast. It is just difficult to get over the saving of the i5 with another $40 off.

But you lose the motherboard cpu $40 off combo with the i7. I did a build a month ago with that same i7 and it was nice and fast. It is just difficult to get over the saving of the i5 with another $40 off.

This is not true in my local store. You can do $40 on both i7 or i5

-

"Too much is almost enough. Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards."

It's a mandatory requirement for my media to remain readable in any machine, event or circumstance. I must be different, but I REQUIRE this.
I can't tell you how awesome it is to grab a drive out of my Norco Server and be able to slap it into my desktop (hot swap, internal installation, or HDD dock) and read the contents.
I can't tell you how awesome it is for me to rip a drive full of blurays on my desktop and then just simply add it to my flex raid server.

I'd go with Nzfs type product if I was to move away from Flexraid. Not to hate on Unraid but I consider it a "poor mans" solution. If it was the same cost as Flexraid, or Flexraid was free it would not even be popular. Only it's free status have kept it viable and popular.

It is inevitable that at some point I will rebuild my server, update or replace it. When I do I really want the content to be easily accessible. Rebuilding my server after using flexraid was so easy. I upgraded my CPU, RAM, Mobo... added a IBM Sata card... reused some HDD's and added some new ones. It was as easy as pie. I didn't lose any data or copy anything.

-

"Too much is almost enough. Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards."

1) UnRAID disks can be read using Windows
2) You can rip Blu Rays directly to an UnRAID share
3) UnRAID isn't free

I get this odd feeling that no one should listen to you... It's almost as if you're lying!

1. Can I just remove my hdd put it in any system/drive dock and natively just read contents and change stuff like a regular ntfs drive ?
3. Isn't the one with a few drives a free version ?

Does unraid support more than 22 drives now ?

Trying to make my decision on which way to go. I am moving towards flexraid cause I thought I couldn't do all these things.
One thing I can't do is move all my data from existing drives to start with empty drives with unraid. Too much of a time drain.

It's a mandatory requirement for my media to remain readable in any machine, event or circumstance. I must be different, but I REQUIRE this.
I can't tell you how awesome it is to grab a drive out of my Norco Server and be able to slap it into my desktop (hot swap, internal installation, or HDD dock) and read the contents.

I have been running my UnRaid server for years and have never, ever wanted or needed to 'grab' a drive out of my server and throw it into another computer. I just cant see where this would be something any average user would even worry about never mind be mandatory. Then again, if I did somehow have an emergency where this was necessary there are easy free programs which allow you to do this.

I can't tell you how awesome it is for me to rip a drive full of blurays on my desktop and then just simply add it to my flex raid server.

Not sure why this is 'awesome'...I rip directly to my UnRaid server all the time.

I'd go with Nzfs type product if I was to move away from Flexraid. Not to hate on Unraid but I consider it a "poor mans" solution. If it was the same cost as Flexraid, or Flexraid was free it would not even be popular. Only it's free status have kept it viable and popular.

Ridiculous. Obviously you are making up things and stating them as fact...no surprise here though. Just a look through this very forum it seems most UnRaid users are not only using the paid version of UnRaid, but doing so with no problems at all.

It is inevitable that at some point I will rebuild my server, update or replace it. When I do I really want the content to be easily accessible. Rebuilding my server after using flexraid was so easy. I upgraded my CPU, RAM, Mobo... added a IBM Sata card... reused some HDD's and added some new ones. It was as easy as pie. I didn't lose any data or copy anything.